U.S. Service Academies, or military academies, are essentially military colleges. They are federal academies for undergraduate education and training of commissioned officers. According to the U.S. Department of Defense website, there are five academies: United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, and United States Merchant Marine Academy.

The academies will then select new students based on those nominations from around the country.